IDIOTIC AND INDEFENSIBLE SCHOOL SITING
Three gas stations on the Mileground aren’t enough. Sheetz wants to make it four, and Sheetz wants to locate its gas station on the Eastwood school site border.
Siting a school along an unstable and rapidly developing commuter and commercial strip and intersection is negligent many times over, and in multiple ways. And yet Mon Schools continues to ram through its highly unpopular and grossly irresponsible decision to build a consolidated pre-K thru 5th grade school in this outrageous vortex.
How about gas fumes and more congestion and more vehicle exhaust pollution and more traffic noise from the gas station that Sheetz wants to build on the armory site when it soon comes up for sale?
What moves in next? An asbestos plant?
Already the voluminous dangers and liabilities are a scandal: high traffic, congested traffic, the impending crowding roundabout intersection, vehicle exhaust pollution, traffic noise pollution, undermining, sewage, the stupendous cost of the land and its remediation, and now a likely gas station. Not to mention the preposterous and secretive siting process.
So much for a nice quiet couple of schools, one in the country and one in a stable residential area. Mon Schools could easily build two such schools to replace Easton Elementary and Woodburn Elementary for the $21 to $25 million dollars it intends to spend to hideously site and build Eastwood Consolidated in asinine defiance of broad community will.
A Sheetz representative met with Mon Schools Superintendent Frank Devono as far back as March 2010 about siting a Sheetz gas station by the school. Did public official Devono see fit to mention this matter to the public? Of course not. You, the public, will be the last to know about what deeply concerns you. Mon Schools is fully intent upon opposing public will on the school siting to impose its own reckless, dangerous, and profoundly incompetent decision.
See below what we now know, via our Freedom of Information Act request of the WV Division of Highways.
This FOIA release shows Sheetz’ most recent interest in the armory site bordering the school grounds very close to the would-be school building:
From: “Cramer, David E” <David.E.Cramer@wv.gov>
To: “Davis, Michael R” <Michael.R.Davis@wv.gov>
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:41:22 -0400
Subject: RE: Another Sheetz Request
I can coordinate this project for DOH. Sheetz’ rep can contact me. Thanks.
Dave
From: Davis, Michael R
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 3:17 PM
To: Cramer, David E
Subject: Another Sheetz Request
This one is proposed for the Mileground adjacent to the existing Armory away from the intersection with 705. (Sorry, I have a plan view, but apparently our scanner isn’t working because I’m not getting anything from it). As you’ll recall from the mtg. last week, once the Armory gets their new property over at the Airport this property will likely be put up for sale by the City and Sheetz wants it. The fellow we met with from Sheetz inquired about a signal at the proposed intersection, but I don’t see how that can be possible with all the emphasis being placed on improving traffic flow through this area.
Do you want me to do the same thing with this one and just let them know to contact you on this project? I imagine DD and DT will have a lot to say about this one.
Just let me know. Thanks.
Mike
FOIA release from Monongalia County Schools showing Sheetz’ original interest in a land parcel by the school drive :
From: Frank Devono <fdevono@access.k12.wv.us>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 9:30 AM
To: Sarah Bauer; Boe Betty Lou; Terry Hawkins; Donna Talerico; Becky Mattern; Daniel McGinnis
Subject: Fwd: Mileground Road
Categories: Blue Category
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: “Terry M. Astleford” <mra@atlanticbb.net>
Date: March 27, 2010 7:27:06 PM EDT
To: shannon.mundell@mail.wvu.edu
Cc: Frank Devono <fdevono@access.k12.wv.us>, “hazelet, david p” <dhazelet@sheetz.com>, Terry McMillen <tmcmillen@mcmilleng.com>, mmarko@atlanticbb.net, ehensley <ehensley@sheetz.com>,mickeypetitto@aol.com
Subject: Mileground Road
Shannon:
Mickey and I met with Dr. Devono last week to discuss my interest in the 2.17 acre parcel at the intersection of Mileground Road and Rte 705. Dr. Devono was a gracious host as he took time to explain the school district’s plan to acquire the rear portion of the Mileground parcel for the development of a campus for the pre-K to K-5 student body. As I remained interested in the 2.17 acre parcel, I suggest that a meeting be arranged for all interested parties. From my side, I would like to have represented my tenant; Sheetz, my engineer and my legal counsel. I suggest these participants so that I clearly understand the procedure for acquisition of the corner parcel. Also, my tenant has an expectation of their presentation at the site. Bringing everyone together will eliminate confusion and misunderstandings in the future. Please let me know when you are available in the next few weeks. Possibly we can meet at your office or possibly I can impose on Dr. Devono to let us meet at his office. Give me several dates and times that you are available and I will coordinate a date and time agreeable to all.
Thanks, Shannon.
New Woodburn Community School 
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